Dephlegmating apparatus for distilling plants



Aug. 25, 1931. F. M. HESS 1,820,741

DEPHLEGMATING APPARATUS FOR DISTILLING PLAN'I 'S Original Filed June 7 1922 F125? I v; w

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Patented Aug. 25, 1931 UNITED sra'rrs FRANCIS M. HESS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS DEPI-ILEGMATIING APPARATUS FOR mstrrrmme PLANTS Original application filed. June 7, 1922, Serial No. 566,470. Divided and this application filed December 13,

1926. Serial This invention relates to the art of hydrocarbon distillation with more special reference to pressure systems, and the present application constitutes a division of the application forming the basis of Letters Patent No. 1,610,523 granted to me on the 14th day of December, 1926. 1

The main object of the present invention is to provide an improved scrubber and con denser for the vapor given off from the boiler or still, wherein the reflux andvapor impart their latent heat of vaporization to the incoming oil, which latter travels countercurrent to the flow of the vapor in both the con- 15 denser and the dephlegmator, so as to obtain a gradual exchange of heat in regular progression from the crude material;

A practical and preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompany- 2Q ing drawings,in which Fig. 1 is a vertical section, broken out between top and bottom, of the dephlegmator and condenser and their immediately associated parts and connections;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical section through one of the vapor tubes or conduits of the dephlegmator, illustrating a structure by which a spiral or serpentine upward flow of the vapor and backward flow of the reflux is effected; and i Fig. 3 is a cross-section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

First describing the dephlegmator or scrubber, this comprises a cylindrical tank body 57 and lower and upper heads 58 and 59 joined to the tank body by tongue and groove joints as shown. This tank is divided by transverse tube sheets or diaphragms 58 and 59 into upper, intermediate and lower compartments 60, 61 and 62, respectively. Extending between and at their ends rolled into the diaphragms 58 and 59 are several circular groups of vapor tubes 63, through which the vapors from the still flow from the lower compartment 62 to the upper compartmcnt 60. The vapor scrubbing and condensing effects of the tubes 63 may be en hanced by equipping each tube with a spiral 64, clearly shown in detail in Figs. 2 and 3, by which the vapor flowing upwardly pling 7 9 is a pipe 80 that extends centrally through the tube is caused to follow a serpentine path.

Inwardly off the innermost group of vapor tubes is disposed asimilar. circular group of tubes 65 which constitute residuum conducting tubes. To the lower diaphragm 59 is secured alarge tube section or manifold 66 that encircles and communicates with the lower ends of the residuu'm'tubes 65; .and the manifold 66 is connected. by a. pipe 67; and union coupling 68 with a residuum flow pipe 11 from the still; and the bottom 58 'of the dephlegmator tank'is connected by a pipe 69 and flanged and bolted coupling 70 with a pipe 10 leading from the top of the still, as shown in my aforesaid patent.

Interposed in the pipe 10 is a flanged T- coupling 10 from the upper side of which vapor conducting pipes 71 and 7 2 lead into the upperportion of the lower compartment 62 preferably at diametrically opposite points of the'latt'er.

' Fitted into and depending from the lower diaphragm 59 and communicating with the intermediate chamber 61 is a pipe 7 3 for the discharge of the crude material from theintermediate chamber 61 to the lowermost chamber 62; and in this pipe 73 is a regulating valve 74 having a stem '75 extending through a packed'bearin'g inthe cylindrical wall of the dephlegmator tank, by which the flow of the crude material can be regulated ashereinafter described. 3

Secured to the upper diaphragm 58 and encircling the upperends of the residuum g3 tubes 65 and communicating with the latter is a large pipe section or manifold 7 6, similar to the manifold 66; and extending laterally therefrom is a residuum delivery pipe 13, this latter passing-through a vapor transfer pipe 12 that communicates with the topmost compartment 60.'

Joined to a discharge pipe 16 leading from an overhead supply tank T by an elbow couthrough the upper head 59 of the dephlegmator cylinder through the upper compartment 60 and its contained manifold 76, into and nearly to the bottom ofthe'intermediate compartment 61. Preferably and as herein shown, the lower end of the pipe is closed, and said pipe is provided with perforations or small apertures 81 that extend practically the full length of that portion of the pipe lying within the chamber 61 and allow the incoming oil to trickle through and build up in the space around the vapor and residuum tubes. In the upper end of the pipe 80 is a valve 82 having a stem 88 by which the amount of oil entering the perforated pipe 80 may be controlled at will.

From the dephlegn'iator last described the uncondenscd portion of the vapors and the uncondensible gases flow through the pipe 12, and the residuum flows through the pipe 13, to the condenser shown at the rip; it of Fig. 1. structurally the condenser is substantially a duplicate of the dephlcgmator, omitting the perforated oil delivery pipe 80, with the vapors and residuum flowing from top to bottom, instead of in the reverse direction. Briefly describing the structure of the condenser, the same connprises a cylindrical tank body 841. and lower and upper heads 85 and 86 joined to the tank body by the tongue and groove joints shown. The tank is divided by transverse tube sheets or diaphragms 87 and 88 into upper intermediate and lower compartments 89, 90 and 91, respectively. Extending}; between and at their ends rolled into the diaphragms 87 and 88 are several circular groups of vapor tubes 92, through which the uncondensed vapors and uncondensible gases from the dephlegmator flow from the upper con'ipartment 89 to the lower compartment 91.

Inwardly of the innermost group of: vapor tubes is disposed a group of tubes 93 which constitute ducts for the downward flow of residuum. To the upper diaphragm is secured a large tube section or manifold 9-1 that encircles and communicates with the residuum tubes 93. and into which the residuum conducting pipe 1?) is led. The vapor con ducting pipe 12, which encircles the residuum pipe 13, is similarly connected into the side of the upper compartment 89.

Secured to the lower diaphragn'i 88 and en circling the lower ends of the residuum tubes 93 and communicating with the latter is a large pipe section or manifold 95, similar to the manifold 94; and from the bottom of the manifold 95 a residuum discharge pipe 96 leads through the lower head 85 of the condenser cylinder and thence to any suitable point of discharge or storage.

From the lower end of the condenser tank the distillate passes by a pipe 1'? into a receiving drum or other point of disposal.

A pipe 14 through which the crude material enters the system leads into the intermediate compartment 90 substantially at the lower end of said compartment and the incoming crude material completely fills said intermediate compartment surrounding and being heated by the vapor and residuum pipes, and from a point near the upper end ot said compartment flows through a pipe 15 into the upper end of the tank 'l, the level in which latter is maintained constant by a float controlled Valve as shown in my aforesaid patent.

In the operation of the system, the crude oil to be cracked is forced by a pinup from an outside source through line 1% into the intermediate chamber of the condenser filling the space around the tubes of the latter. Thence the oil continues upwardly through line 15 into the overflow tank '1, in which a constant level is n'iaintained. From tank 'l the oil flows by gravity through pipe 16, and by manipulating valve 82 the amount entering the per oratcd pipe 80 is controlled at rill. The perforations in said pipe allow the incoming oil to trickle therethrough and build up around the vapor and residuum tubes i. the intermediate chamber, so that the coldest portion on top and the hottest portion is at the bottom, with the body of oil moving from top to bottom counter-current to the upward travel of the vapors and residuum. From the bottom of the interme We chamber of the depalegn'iator the oil flows through pipe 73 into the bottom chamber (32 of the dephlegmator. Vith a constant flow entering through pipe 80 the height of oil in the intermediate chamber of the dephlegmator may be controlled at i by means or" the gulatinp; valve 74. This in turn determines the time required for the oil to pass through the chamber, or, in other words. the length of time it is in contact with the vapor and which, in turn, controls the dro amount of reflux pping out or" the vapors. In the comaent 52 the feed oil mixes with the rei om the vapors, and the mixture flows through the pipes 69 and 10 into the still.

The residuum forced up through pipe 11 follows a path within and parallel to the path of the vapors to the bottom of the condenser and is lowered in temperature in the same manner as the vapors, namely. by ,q'ivin up its heat to the inflowing oil travele' counter-current thereto.

residuum tubes,

The vapors from the still flow through the upper portion of pipe 10 and the branch pipes 71 and 72 into the bottom chamber (32 of the dephlegmator, whence they travel upwardly tbrousrh the vapor tubes 63, followinc the circuitous paths created therein by the spirals; during which travel a portion vapors is condensed and drops backly into the chamb r 62. raising or ering; the level of the oil around the tubes throuogh manipulation. of the regulating valve 74, the amount of reflux dropping out or" the vapors is increased or decreased. This ols the temperature of the vapors L ad from the dephlegmator, and this in both.

The cracked vapors flow through a contin uous passage that is constantly decreasing in temperature all the way from the bottom of the still to the top of the dephlegmator. This creates an ideal condition for cracked vapor to be further cracked in a continued decreasing temperature zone, with along enough time interval elapsing for reactions and equilibrium to be set up.

I claim- 1. In a pressure system of hydrocarbon distillation, a dephlegmator comprising a vertical shell, transverse diaphragms dividing said shell into upper, intermediate and lower compartments, a series of tubes extend ing between said diaphragms constituting vapor conduits from the lower to the upper compartment, means for delivering crude material to said intermediate compartment, and a conduit for the upward flow of heated residuum extending through said intermediate compartment. 1

2. In a pressure system of hydrocarbon distillation, a dephlegmator comprising a vertical shell, transverse diaphragms dividving said shell into upper, intermediate and lower compartments, a group of vapor conducting tubes extending between said diaphragms, means for deliveringcrude material to said intermediate compartment, a group of residuum conducting tubes also extending between said diaphragms, a 'mani fold in said lower compartment communicating with the lower ends of said residuum conducting tubes, and a manifold in said upper compartment communicating with the upper ends of said residuum conducting tubes.

3. In a pressure system of hydrocarbon distillation, a dephlegmator comprising a vertical shell, transverse diaphragms dividing said shell into upper, intermediate and lower compartments, a group of vapor conducting tubes extending between said diaphragms, a conduit for the upward How of heated residuum extending through the lower, intermediate and upper compartments, and an oil supply pipe delivering oil to said intermediate compartment.

4:. In a pressure system of hydrocarbon distillation, a d-ephlegmator comprising a vertical shell, transversediaphragms dividing said shell into upper, intermediate and lower compartments, a group of vapor-cod ducting tubes extending through said diaphragms, and a vertical oil supply pipe extending through said upper compartment and approximately to the bottom of said in termediate con'ipartment, said oil supply pipe being closed at its lower end and pro vided with a series of lateral oil. delivery apertures substantially (o-extensive with the full height of said intermediate compartment.

5. In a pressure system of hydrocarbon distillation, a dephlegmator comprising vertical shell, transversediauhragmi; dividing said shell into upper, intermediate and lower compartments, a group of vapor-conducting tubes ext-ending through said diaphragms, an oil. supply pipe extending downwardly in said intermediate con'ipartment and formed with lateral oil-delivery apertures, means for passing oil from the bottom of said intermediate compartment to said lower compartment, and a regulating'valve in said oil supply pipe.

6. As a unit of a hydrocarbon distillation system, dephlegmator comurising a vertical. shell, transverse diaphragms dividing said shell into upper, intermediate and low or conipartments, a group of vapor conducting tubes extending through said diaphragms, and a vertical oil supply pipe extending through said intermediate compartment approximately to the bottom thereof,

said oil suppl pipe being closed at its lowor end and formed with a series of lateral oil delivery apertures substantially co-exten-i sive with the full height of said intermediate compartment.

FRANCIS M. HESS. 

